U.S. patent application number 13/630061 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-03 for holding sleeve and rod tool including the same, and fabrication methods thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is Larry Lee. Invention is credited to Larry Lee.
Application Number | 20140090520 13/630061 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50383997 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140090520 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Larry |
April 3, 2014 |
HOLDING SLEEVE AND ROD TOOL INCLUDING THE SAME, AND FABRICATION
METHODS THEREOF
Abstract
A holding sleeve and a rod tool including the same and
fabrication methods thereof are provided. The holding sleeve is
adapted to dispose around a body portion of a main body and can
rotate relative to the body portion. A blocking member is disposed
in at least one through hole of a first sleeve. A second sleeve is
movable relative to and disposed around the first sleeve. The
blocking member is controllably pressed by the second sleeve to be
partially received in an annular groove of the body portion. An
elastic member is disposed around and between the first sleeve the
first and second sleeves. Before the second sleeve is mounted to
the first sleeve, a part of the elastic member corresponds to the
blocking member in a radial direction of the first sleeve and can
limit the blocking member to locate in the through hole.
Inventors: |
Lee; Larry; (Taichung,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lee; Larry |
Taichung |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
50383997 |
Appl. No.: |
13/630061 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
81/177.1 ;
29/434 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25G 1/00 20130101; Y10T
29/4984 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
81/177.1 ;
29/434 |
International
Class: |
B25B 23/16 20060101
B25B023/16; B23P 11/00 20060101 B23P011/00 |
Claims
1. A holding sleeve, being adapted to be limitatively slidably
disposed around a body portion of a main body and rotatable
relative to the body portion, the body portion being formed with at
least one annular groove, the holding sleeve including: a first
sleeve, being substantially tubular and formed with at least one
through hole; at least one blocking member, received in the through
hole; a second sleeve, being movable relative to the first sleeve
and disposed around the first sleeve, and the blocking member being
abutted by the second sleeve so as to be controllably partially
received in the annular groove; and an elastic member, disposed
around the first sleeve and abutted against the first sleeve and
the second sleeve; wherein before the second sleeve and the first
sleeve are connected with each other, a part of the elastic member
corresponds to the blocking member in a radial direction of the
first sleeve so as to unpermit disengagement of the blocking member
from the through hole.
2. The holding sleeve of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the
second sleeve is formed with a circumferential projection and a
circumferential indentation adjacent to each other, the second
sleeve is movable between a limitation position and a release
position relative to the first sleeve, when the second sleeve is
located in the limitation position, the circumferential projection
abuts the blocking member so that the blocking member is partially
received in the annular groove, and when the second sleeve is
located in the release position, the circumferential indentation
corresponds to the blocking member so that the blocking member is
received in the circumferential indentation and non-wedged in the
annular groove.
3. The holding sleeve of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first
sleeve and the second sleeve has a rugged pattern partially formed
on their outer surfaces.
4. The holding sleeve of claim 1, wherein the second sleeve
includes an annular member and a tubular member, the annular member
is detachably secured to one end of the first sleeve, the tubular
member is slidably disposed between the annular member and the
first sleeve, and the elastic member is abutted between the tubular
member and the first sleeve.
5. The holding sleeve of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a
coil spring, the coil spring is provide with a relative smaller
coil pitch at at least one end thereof and with a relative greater
coil pitch at an intermediate portion thereof, wherein the coil
pitch is defined as a distance between two adjacent winds of the
coil spring.
6. The holding sleeve of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a
coil spring, each coil pitch of the coil spring is smaller than an
extent of the blocking member extending in an axial direction of
the first sleeve, wherein the coil pitch is defined as a distance
between two adjacent winds of the coil spring.
7. A rod tool, including a holding sleeve of claim 1, and further
including a main body, wherein the main body includes a body
portion formed with at least one annular groove, the holding sleeve
is limitatively slidably disposed around the body portion and
movable relative to the body portion, and the blocking member is
abutted by the second sleeve so as to be controllably partially
received in the annular groove to secure the holding sleeve to the
body portion.
8. The rod tool of claim 7, wherein the main body further includes
two end portions connected respectively to two ends of the body
portion, and the two end portions are respectively formed with a
driving portion and a joint.
9. A fabrication method of a holding sleeve of claim 1, including
the following steps: providing a first sleeve which is
substantially tubular and formed with at least one through hole;
disposing at least one blocking member in the through hole;
disposing an elastic member around the first sleeve, wherein a part
of the elastic member corresponds to the blocking member in a
radial direction of the first sleeve so as to unpermit
disengagement of the blocking member from the through hole; and
disposing a second sleeve around the first sleeve, wherein the
elastic member is compressed between and abutted against the first
sleeve and the second sleeve, the second sleeve is controllably
movable relative to the first sleeve, and the blocking member is
abutted by the second sleeve so as to controllably partially go
into the interior of the first sleeve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a holding sleeve and a rod
tool including the same and fabrication methods thereof.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Conventional connection members such as bolts or nuts are
provided with various sizes according to various requirements, and
thus wrenches are sized in sizes different from each other to
fasten or unfasten the various bolts or nuts. To save storage space
and reduce loading on a user due to the weights of the wrenches, a
hand tool which includes an operation rod suitable to cooperate
with variously sized sockets, such as a socket wrench, T-shaped
wrench or Y-shaped wrench is developed. This kind of hand tool is
generally includes an operation rod having an axial connection
portion and sockets whose sizes are different from each other. Each
of the sockets is formed with a receiving recess at one end thereof
for correspondingly nonrotatably receive the axial connection
portion of the operation rod, so that the user can rotate the
operation rod together with the socket to fasten or unfasten the
bolts or nuts.
[0005] A rapidly rotatable holding sleeve structure of a hand tool
is disclosed in TW M299055 (application No.: 095204559). In TW
M299055, a holding sleeve is disposing around the intermediate
section of a handle, and a positioning pin is pivotally disposed in
the holding sleeve. The positioning pin is fixedly secured to
handle so that the handle is rotatable relative to the holding
sleeve. Through the above structure, the user can use his one hand
holding the holding sleeve and rotate the handle using the other
hand during a later period of unfastening a bolt (or nut) or a
earlier period of fastening a bolt (or nut), which can result in a
convenient and smooth operation. However, there are problems with
the above conventional structure when actually used: since the
holding sleeve is relatively fixedly secured to the handle, the
holding sleeve cannot be disassembled from the handle and thus
cannot be interchanged to a handle of another kind; the holding
sleeve cannot be adjusted in position relative to the handle, so
that either of the holding sleeve and the handle has no
interchangeability and adjustability; and the holding sleeve is
difficult to fabricate, has plural parts and is of high cost.
[0006] The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at
least mitigate the above mentioned disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a holding
sleeve and a rod tool including the same and fabrication methods
thereof, in which they are easy and quick to assemble, disassemble
and fabricate.
[0008] To achieve the above and other objects, a holding sleeve of
the present invention is provided. The holding sleeve is adapted to
be limitatively slidably disposed around a body portion of a main
body and rotatable relative to the body portion, and the body
portion is formed with at least one annular groove. The holding
sleeve includes a first sleeve, at least one blocking member, a
second sleeve and an elastic member. The first sleeve is
substantially tubular and formed with at least one through hole.
The at least one blocking member is received in the through hole.
The second sleeve is movable relative to the first sleeve and
disposed around the first sleeve, and the blocking member is
abutted by the second sleeve so as to be controllably partially
received in the annular groove. The elastic member is disposed
around the first sleeve and abutted against the first sleeve and
the second sleeve. Before the second sleeve and the first sleeve
are connected with each other, a part of the elastic member
corresponds to the blocking member in a radial direction of the
first sleeve so as to unpermit disengagement of the blocking member
from the through hole.
[0009] To achieve the above and other objects, a rod tool including
one of the above holding sleeve and a main body is provided. The
main body includes a body portion, and the body portion is formed
with at least one annular groove. The holding sleeve is
limitatively slidably disposed around the body portion and movable
relative to the body portion. The blocking member is abutted by the
second sleeve so as to be controllably partially received in the
annular groove to secure the holding sleeve to the body
portion.
[0010] To achieve the above and other objects, a fabrication method
of a holding sleeve includes the following steps: providing a first
sleeve which is substantially tubular and formed with at least one
through hole; disposing at least one blocking member in the through
hole; disposing an elastic member around the first sleeve, wherein
a part of the elastic member corresponds to the blocking member in
a radial direction of the first sleeve so as to unpermit
disengagement of the blocking member from the through hole; and
disposing a second sleeve around the first sleeve, wherein the
elastic member is compressed between and abutted against the first
sleeve and the second sleeve, the second sleeve is controllably
movable relative to the first sleeve, and the blocking member is
abutted by the second sleeve so as to controllably partially go
into the interior of the first sleeve.
[0011] To achieve the above and other objects, a fabrication method
of a rod tool includes the following steps: providing a first
sleeve which is substantially tubular and formed with at least one
through hole; disposing at least one blocking member in the through
hole; disposing an elastic member around the first sleeve, wherein
a part of the elastic member corresponds to the blocking member in
a radial direction of the first sleeve so as to unpermit
disengagement of the blocking member from the through hole;
disposing a second sleeve around the first sleeve, wherein the
elastic member is compressed between and abutted against the first
sleeve and the second sleeve, the second sleeve is controllably
movable relative to the first sleeve, and the blocking member is
abutted by the second sleeve so as to controllably partially go
into the interior of the first sleeve; and disposing a main body in
the first sleeve and the second sleeve, wherein the main body
includes a body portion formed with at least one annular groove,
and the second sleeve is controllably movable relative to the first
sleeve to abut the blocking member so that the blocking member is
pressed to partially received in the annular groove.
[0012] The present invention will become more obvious from the
following description when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations
only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective breakdown view of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a partial view of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4A is a partial view according to an alternative
embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIGS. 5 and 6 are views showing an use of the present
invention; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view according to an alternative
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a holding sleeve 10 of the present
is provided. The holding sleeve 10 is adapted to be limitatively
slidably disposed around a body portion 22 of a main body 20 and
rotatable relative to the body portion 22. The body portion 22 of
the main body 20 is formed with at least one annular groove 24,
more specifically, formed with four annular grooves 24. However,
the body portion 22 of the main body 20 may be formed with two,
three or more than four annular grooves. The holding sleeve 10
includes a first sleeve 12, at least one blocking member 14, a
second sleeve 16 and an elastic member 18.
[0021] The first sleeve 12 is substantially tubular and formed with
at least one through hole 122, more specifically, formed with two
corresponding through holes 122. However, the first sleeve 12 may
be formed with one, three or more than four through holes. With the
first sleeve 12 including the through holes 122, the through holes
122 are preferably evenly arranged around the first sleeve 12 with
equal intervals therebetween. For each of the through holes 122, an
inner opening at an inner surface of the first sleeve 12 is smaller
than an outer opening at an outer surface of the first sleeve
12.
[0022] In this embodiment, the holding sleeve 10 includes two
blocking members 14, and each of the blocking members 14 is
received in one of the through holes 122. Preferably, each of the
blocking members 14 is a ball-shaped body such as a rolling ball,
steel ball or the like, and the amount of the blocking members 14
is equal to that of the through holes 122. The greatest external
diameter of the blocking member 14 is smaller than the diameter of
the outer opening but greater than the diameter of the inner
opening of the through hole 122, such that the blocking member 14
is permitted to partially go into the interior of the first sleeve
12 via the inner opening but not go through the inner opening.
[0023] The second sleeve 16 is movable relative to the first sleeve
12 and disposed around the first sleeve 12. The blocking members 14
are abutted by the second sleeve 16 so as to be controllably
partially received in the annular groove 24 to secure the holding
sleeve 10 and the main body 20. In this embodiment, the second
sleeve 16 includes an annular member 162 and a tubular member 164.
The annular member 162 is detachably secured to a top end of the
first sleeve 12, and the tubular member 164 is slidably disposed
between the annular member 162 and the first sleeve 12. More
specifically, the inner circumferential surface of the annular
member 162 is formed with inner threads, the top end of the first
sleeve 12 is formed with outer threads, and the annular member 162
and the first sleeve 12 are screwed together via the inner threads
and the outer threads. However, the annular member 162 and the
first sleeve 12 are not limited to be connected with each other via
the above screwing manner.
[0024] In this embodiment, the inner surface of the tubular member
164 of the second sleeve 16 is formed with a circumferential
projection 166 and a circumferential indentation 168 adjacent
thereto, and the tubular member 164 of the second sleeve 16 is
movable between a limitation position and a release position
relative to the first sleeve 12. When the tubular member 164 of the
second sleeve 16 is located in the limitation position, the
circumferential projection 166 abuts against the blocking members
14 so that each of the blocking members 14 is partially received in
the annular groove 24. When the tubular member 164 of the second
sleeve 16 is located in the release position, the circumferential
indentation 168 corresponds to the blocking members 14 so that the
blocking members 14 go into the circumferential indentation 168 and
are non-wedged in the annular groove 24.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the elastic member 18 is disposed
around the first sleeve 12 and abutted against the first sleeve 12
and the second sleeve 16. More specifically, the elastic member 18
is abutted between the tubular member 164 and the first sleeve 12.
In this embodiment, the elastic member 18 is a coil spring, in
which the coil spring is provided with a relative smaller coil
pitch at at least one end of the coil spring and with a relative
greater coil pitch at an intermediate portion of the coil spring,
wherein the coil pitch is defined as a distance between two
adjacent winds of the coil spring, such that the coil spring can
include less winds of coil. That is, the coil spring can have a
smaller lengthwise length after compressed, thus the used material
of the coil spring can be reduced and the holding sleeve 10 can be
made with a smaller size in length. It can be understood that, in
an alternative embodiment, each coil pitch of the coil spring may
be smaller than an extent of the blocking member 14 extending in an
axial direction of the first sleeve 12 (for example, the diameter
of a ball-shaped body). As such, no matter the disposed location of
the coil spring relative to the first sleeve 12 is, every two
adjacent winds of the coil spring can abut the blocking members 14,
so as to prevent disengagement of the blocking members 14 from the
through holes 122 during the process of disposing the second sleeve
16 around the first sleeve 12.
[0026] It should be noted that the elastic member may be designed
to have a different structure, as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, a
lengthwise extent of an elastic member 18' is smaller than a
distance between the through holes 122 and an annular abutting
surface 124 of the first sleeve 12. After the blocking members 14
are received in the through holes 122, the internal diameter of the
elastic member 18' is minorly smaller than the greatest distance
between two corresponding blocking members 14 in a radial direction
of the first sleeve 12. As such, the elastic member 18' can
steadily abut the blocking members 14 so as to prevent
disengagement of the blocking members 14 from the through holes
122.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in fabrication, the elastic
member 18 is disposed around the first sleeve 12 in advance. Before
the second sleeve 16 and the first sleeve 12 are connected with
each other, one bottom end of the elastic member 18 is preferably
abutted against the annular abutting surface 124 of the first
sleeve 12, and a part of the elastic member 18 corresponds to the
blocking members 14 in a radial direction of the first sleeve 12.
More specifically, a top end having a relative smaller coil pitch
of the coil spring is disposed around the blocking members 14, so
as to unpermit disengagement of the blocking members 14 from the
through holes 122, thus facilitating following fabrication process.
Preferably, the coil spring can be rotated around the first sleeve
12 by an any angle) (0-360.degree. and the elastic member 18 can
always be kept with a part corresponding to the blocking members 14
in the radial direction of the first sleeve 12 so as to limit
movement of the blocking members 14.
[0028] The second sleeve 16 is then disposed around the first
sleeve 12. Since the radial extent of the circumferential
projection 166 of the tubular member 164 is smaller than the
external diameter of the coil spring, the coil spring can be
compressed by the circumferential indentation 168 of the tubular
member 164 so as to assist in biasing of the second sleeve 16 away
from the first sleeve 12. When the circumferential projection 166
of the tubular member 164 keeps compressing the coil spring until a
top end of the first sleeve 12 is exposed outside the tubular
member 164, the annular member 162 is then secured to the top end
of the first sleeve 12 so as to retain the tubular member 164 to be
located between the annular member 162 and the annular abutting
surface of the first sleeve 12 so that the tubular member 164
cannot disengage from the first sleeve 12.
[0029] It is noted that, when the elastic member 18' as shown in
FIG. 4A is used, since the internal diameter of the elastic member
18' is minorly smaller than the greatest distance between two
corresponding blocking members 14 in the radial direction of the
first sleeve 12. As such, in fabrication, the elastic member 18'
may be selectively disposed around the first sleeve 12 in advance
(for example, the elastic member 18' is butted against the annular
abutting surface 124 of the first sleeve 12), the blocking members
14 are disposed in the through holes 122, and the elastic member
18' is then moved upwardly to limit the blocking members 14 between
two adjacent winds of coil of the elastic member 18', so that the
elastic member 18' can effectively abut the blocking members 14.
The second sleeve 16 is disposed around the first sleeve 12;
alternatively, the blocking members 14 may be selectively disposed
in the through holes 122 in advance, the elastic member 18' is then
disposed around the first sleeve 12, and the blocking members 14
are retained between two adjacent winds of coil of the elastic
member 18'. As such, the elastic member 18' can also effectively
abut against the blocking members 14. Finally, the second sleeve 16
is disposed around the first sleeve 12.
[0030] Regarding the fabrication method of the holding sleeve 10 is
further described below. The fabrication method of the holding
sleeve 10 includes following steps: providing the first sleeve 12
which is substantially tubular and formed with the through holes
122; disposing the blocking members 14 in the through holes 122;
disposing the elastic member 18 around the first sleeve 12, wherein
a part of the elastic member 18 corresponds to the blocking member
14 in the radial direction of the first sleeve 12 so as to unpermit
disengagement of the blocking member 14 from the through holes 122;
and disposing the second sleeve 16 around the first sleeve 12,
wherein the elastic member 18 is compressed and abutted against the
first sleeve 12 and the second sleeve 16, the second sleeve 16 is
controllably movable relative to the first sleeve 12, and the
blocking members 14 are abutted by the second sleeve 16 so as to
controllably partially go into the interior of the first sleeve
12.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, in use, when the second sleeve
16 is located in the limitation position, the circumferential
projection 166 is abutted against the blocking members 14 so that
the blocking members 14 are partially received in one of the
annular grooves 24, so as to block the holding sleeve 10 at the
body portion 22 of the main body 20 (FIG. 3); when the tubular
member 164 moves toward the annular abutting surface of the first
sleeve 12 to the release position, that is, the circumferential
indentation 168 of the tubular member 164 corresponds to the
blocking members 14 (FIG. 5), the circumferential indentation 168
permits the blocking members 14 to go thereinto so that the
blocking members 14 are not hustled to be received in the annular
groove 24. More specifically, the blocking members 14 blocked in
the annular groove 24 of the body portion 22 is radially outwardly
pushed by the body portion 22 to move into the circumferential
indentation 168, so that the holding sleeve 10 is no longer blocked
and can thus slide relative to the body portion 22, whereby being
capable of changing the limited position of the holding sleeve 10
relative to the body portion 22 (FIG. 6).
[0032] It is noted that, as shown in FIG. 2, to improve the grip
effects on the holding sleeve 10, at least one of the first sleeve
12 and the second sleeve 16 has a rugged pattern 130 partially
formed on their respective outer surfaces. More specifically,
either of the outer surfaces of the first sleeve 12 and the second
sleeve 16 is preferably formed with the rugged pattern 130, so as
to avoid the problem of being hard to grip the holding sleeve 10
due to a smooth outer surface.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5, a rod tool is provided with a
holding sleeve 10 and a main body 20. In this embodiment, the
holding sleeve 10 and the main body 20 are exemplary and are not
limited thereto.
[0034] In this embodiment, the holding sleeve 10 is limitatively
slidably disposed around the body portion 22 and rotatable relative
to the body portion 22. When the second sleeve 16 is located in the
limitation position (FIG. 3), the blocking members 14 are abutted
by the second sleeve 16 and controllably partially received in the
annular groove 24, so as to secure the holding sleeve 10 to the
body portion 22. Alternatively, the second sleeve 16 may be
selectively slid relative to the first sleeve 12 to adjust the
second sleeve 16 to be located in the release position (FIG. 5),
and thus the holding sleeve 10 can be slid relative to the body
portion 22 of the main body 20, whereby being capable of changing
the limited position of the holding sleeve 10 relative to the body
portion 22 or permitting the removal of the holding sleeve 10 from
the body portion 22 of the main body 20.
[0035] Regarding the fabrication method of the rod tool is further
described below. In the fabrication method of the rod tool, the
fabricated holding sleeve 10 is disposed around the body portion 22
of the main body 20, that is, the main body 20 is disposed through
the first sleeve 12 and the second sleeve 16, the second sleeve 16
is movable and can controllably move relative to the first sleeve
12 to abut the blocking members 14, so that the blocking members 14
are hustled and partially received in the annular groove 24.
Whereby, the holding sleeve 10 is secured to the body portion 22
and rotatable relative to the body portion 22. The fabrication
method of the holding sleeve 10 is well described previously and
thus not described herein in detail.
[0036] Besides, the structures, functions, effects, the cooperative
relationship and the fabrication methods of the holding sleeve 10
and the main body 20 are also well described previously and thus
not described herein in detail.
[0037] A user can connect the fabricated rod tool to a wrench or
other working member via the joint, to rapidly rotate the rod tool
to screw or unscrew a fastener such as a nut, for example. More
specifically, the user can hold the holding sleeve 10 with one of
his hands and rotate the main body 20 with the other hand, so that
the fastener to be screwed or unscrewed can be rapidly fastened or
unfastened.
[0038] Additionally, the structure of the main body 20 can be
modified on the basis of the spirit of the invention. For example,
the main body 20 may include two end portions respectively disposed
at two ends of the body portion 22, and the two end portions may be
respectively formed with a driving portion 26 and a joint 28. The
driving portion 26 may be a transverse rod which is substantially
perpendicularly connected to the body portion 22, and the driving
portion 26 and the body portion 22 substantially forms an T-shaped
structure (as shown in FIG. 2). Alternatively, in a preferable
embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, a driving portion of a main body 30
may be a joint 32 formed with a receiving recess 34, the joint 32
can be adapted to be connected to a driving device such as a
pneumatic or electric rotating driving device, manually-driving
device or the like. However, the joint 32 can be adapted to be
connected to another rod member so as to elongate the rod tool,
thus being much utility and expansive.
[0039] In sum, via simply disposing the elastic member around the
first sleeve, a part of the elastic member corresponds to the
blocking members in a radial direction of the first sleeve so as to
unpermit disengagement of the blocking members from the through
holes, and elements can be easily and quickly assembled.
[0040] Furthermore, the annular member of the second sleeve is
detachably secured to the top end of the first sleeve, so that the
blocking members and the elastic member can be easily and quickly
assembled or disassembled, and the first sleeve and the second
sleeve can be easily and quickly assembled or disassembled.
[0041] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *